Vacancy announcement: PROJECT COORDINATOR

The Mekong Migration Network is looking for a PROJECT COORDINATOR (Roles of Countries of Origin Project) to join our team. Please see the job announcement below.

The Mekong Migration Network in coordination with the Foundation for Migrants from the Mekong Neighbourhood (MMN Foundation) is looking for a full-time PROJECT COORDINATOR (Roles of Countries of Origin Project). The successful applicant will be based at the MMN Secretariat office in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and work for 5 days (40 hours) a week on a fixed term contract between March 2018-August 2019. The position requires the successful applicant to travel to Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam frequently. There is no special support (i.e. support for relocation costs, etc.) for people applying for this position from overseas or other provinces. This initial contract is for one year (March 2018-February 2019) which may be renewable for a further 6 months depending on job performance and funding availability.

Deadline for application: 10 March 2018

Reports to: Regional Coordinator
Job location: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Salary and Benefits: Local NGO rate subject to qualifications and experience.
Start Date: 20 March 2018 (negotiable)
Contract Duration: One year contract (subject to 119 days probation at the beginning of contract); maybe renewable for a further 6 months depending on work performance and funding availability.

About the Mekong Migration Network:

MMN is a sub-regional network of civil society organizations and research institutes working on migration issues in Mekong countries. MMN’s joint areas of work include advocacy, information monitoring, research, capacity building and networking. Please visit our website: www.mekongmigration.org for further information about MMN.

Overview of the Project:

Since its foundation in 2003, MMN has carried out various collaborative research and advocacy projects looking at policies and issues affecting migrants not only in destination countries but also in their countries of origin. In 2015, MMN launched a new project titled Roles of Countries of Origin in Protecting Migrants’ Rights and started renewed efforts in highlighting the roles that countries of origin must play in protecting their national migrating abroad. The findings of the study were published in a report titled Safe from the Start: Roles of Countries of Origin in Protecting Migrants. Please find below a link to the PDF:

From 20-21 July 2017, MMN organised a Policy Dialogue on Roles of Countries of Origin in Yangon, Myanmar. Representatives of the Cambodian and Myanmar governments, along with representatives from the Philippine Embassy in Yangon, private recruitment agencies, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and CSOs from Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and the Philippines, gathered to hear the research findings and recommendations. The Policy Dialogue also provided space for various stakeholders to discuss the roles countries of origin could increasingly play in protecting their nationals migrating abroad.

During the Policy Dialogue Governments of Cambodia and Myanmar agreed to meet again to discuss a common country of origin agenda, and expressed their hope that other countries of origin in the Mekong will join in discussion in the future. To learn more about the Policy Dialogue, please find below a link to the PDF of the proceedings:

Following this success, MMN will carry out the second phase of the project. While MMN’s initial 2015-2017 study focused primarily on recruitment practices and migration mechanisms from Cambodia and Myanmar to Thailand, the second phase of the project has expanded the scope to various migration corridors including those from the Mekong countries to Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong.

The main strategic objectives of the project are the following:

Strengthen advocacy on roles of countries of origin within the GMS;

Facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues on roles of countries of origin in the GMS;

Build knowledge on new migration trends such as migration from the GMS countries to Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and Hong Kong;

Build partnerships among relevant migrant support CSOs in the GMS countries and relevant destination countries outside the GMS; and

Develop concrete recommendations for Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam as to the roles they must play in protecting their nationals migrating abroad based on the research findings.

The Project Coordinator will play a key role in ensuring the timely implementation of the project in consultation with MMN project partners. The Project Coordinator will directly report to the MMN Regional Coordinator. The Project Coordinator will also oversee the work carried out by her/his subordinates, interns and volunteers for the project.

Roles and responsibilities:

Project coordination

*Coordinate the implementation of the MMN’s Roles of Countries of Origin project under the guidance of the Regional Coordinator.

*Assist the Regional Coordinator in managing the overall project budget.

*Ensure that expenses for the respective activities are reported on time and in accordance with MMN policies and requirement.

*Undertake travel relating to project implementation such as for the purpose of following up with project partners, carrying out key informant interviews, and organizing consultation meetings, as required.

Research and advocacy

*Carry out research on migration policies in migrants’ countries of origin such as Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam and ensure MMN has up-to-date information.

*Monitor development of relevant migration and recruitment policies and practices, including those of destination countries that are applicable to this project.

*Monitor development of ASEAN policies that are relevant to roles of countries of origin.

*Develop concrete research plans following discussion during the project consultation meetings. This includes, but is not limited to, developing an overall research design, and formulating questionnaires for interviews.

*Actively follow up with research partners and provide clarification and/or advice as necessary.

*Provide guidance and/or orientation to research partners where necessary to ensure the research carried out by the partners is done in accordance with the plan and is of high quality.

*Alert MMN members and the Secretariat when there are urgent issues to which MMN should respond, to enable MMN to carry out timely advocacy work.

*Draft relevant articles, position papers, or press releases that are necessary to carry out advocacy on roles of countries of origin.

Organising meetings

*Organise meetings as required by the project.

*Assist the Regional Coordinator in ensuring that the objectives of respective meetings are efficiently met.

*Ensure proceedings and meetings minutes are recorded appropriately by staff designated for the task.

*Ensure timely publication/announcement of the meeting outcome on the MMN Webpage and/or circulation of the agreement arising from respective internal meetings with participants.

MMN webpage and social media

*Develop a section on the MMN webpage specially dedicated to the project on Roles of Countries of Origin. (Technical assistance will be provided to create the section but the Project Coordinator will be in charge of developing content in consultation with the MMN project partners.)

*Regularly update the site and circulate the news.

*Use other social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, etc., to effectively promote the achievement of the project and key advocacy points.

Coordination and management of MMN partnerships and media contacts

*Regularly communicate with MMN members and follow up with them to ensure that MMN Secretariat has most updated contact information of respective members.

*Prepare concise narrative reports on the outcome of respective project activities and submit them to the Regional Coordinator in a timely manner.

*Assist the Regional Coordinator in preparing the interim and final project reports to the donors.

Other tasks

*As a member of the MMN Secretariat, assist with tasks related to other MMN projects and the overall work of MMN. These may include, but are not limited to, assisting in the organization of meetings and various activities for other projects, representing MMN at various events, being a part of the MMN team to organize regional events, etc.

*As assigned.

S/he will work as a part of our multi-cultural team and report directly to the Regional Coordinator. The working language of MMN is English. As an employee of the sub-regional network, the job involves frequent travel.

Qualifications and experience:

Essential

*A Master’s degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field, such as development studies, migration studies, gender studies, international relations or law;

*Minimum of 2 years of relevant work experience in a field related to human rights, migration, gender or development;

*Fluency in speaking English and strong writing skills;

*Strong public speaking skills;

*Strong research skills;

*Strong commitment to and understanding of migration issues in Mekong countries;

For those interested, please email your CV and a cover letter along with a list of two referees’ contact details and a writing sample in English for the attention of MMN Regional Coordinator Ms. Reiko Harima at application@mekongmigration.org by 10 March 2018. Only short listed candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.